Free Winter Jacket: New Beginnings by Eliza Lentzski Page A

blinked a few times. “I…is this a trick? Because you often complain that I don’t listen to you.”
    “So why’d you choose t oday as the one day to actually listen?” I literally whined.
    Hunter chuckled and grabbed onto my hand. “Come on. Your present’s in the kitchen.”
    “Present?” My voice embarrassingly cracked on the syllables. I allowed Hunter to pull me in the direction of the kitchen.
    She pulled a small white box out of the refrigerator and set it on the kitchen island. She grabbed a knife out of the butcher block and snapped the twine that held the box closed.
    “I was planning on saving this for later,” she remarked with a smirk. She opened the top of the white box to reveal a small, circular 6-inch birthday cake. There were no candles, but it would have been a mathematical feat to squeeze thirty-one candles onto the surface of the modest-sized cake.
    I immediately swiped my finger along the top of the cake, covering my finger tip with light purple frosting. I sucked my finger into my mouth and licked off the creamy topping.
    Hunter cleared her throat uncomfortably. “Is it weird that I’m suddenly jealous of your finger?”
    I raised an eyebrow, my finger still in my mouth. I popped the digit out from between my lips. “Because it’s covered with frosting or because it was in my mouth?”
    Hunter’s lips curved into a leer. “Take your pick.”
    An unorthodox idea filtered through my brain. I must have made some kind of strange face, because Hunter looked confused.
    “What?” she asked.
    My mouth widened into a grin. “I just figured out what I want for my birthday.”
    +++++
    “But, baby,” Hunter complained as she tugged on the bindings around her wrists. “It’s your birthday. Shouldn’t I be the one doing all the hard work?”
    I sat atop my tied-down girlfriend, straddling he r naked body between my thighs. The fashion scarves around her wrists were soft, but I had tied them securely. The wood slats on my headboard creaked, but gave no indication that they’d break as long as Hunter didn’t suddenly turn into the Incredible Hulk.
    My lips twisted into a wry smile. I stroked my fingers down the center of her naked body. “Haven’t you ever heard the phrase that it’s far better to give than receive?”
    “Sure, but—.”
    I placed a finger over Hunter’s generous lips, effectively silencing her. “Like you said. It’s my birthday. So let me have some fun.”
    Hunter grumbled. “Fine. But can’t you at least take off some of your clothes? I’m feeling a little weird being the only naked one.”
    I smirked and shook my head. “Maybe later. But that’s not on the agenda right now.”
    “Agenda?” She turned her head toward the birthday cake she’d gotten me; it sat on the bedside table. “And what’s the deal with the cake?” she asked. “Are you gonna eat me and have your cake, too?”
    “You’ll see,” I sing-songed. I swiped two fingers across the top of the cake. A giant dollop of frosting hung from my fingertips. I smeared the sugary topping across the side of Hunter’s neck.
    “Oh God,” Hunter groaned, as if suddenly realizing why I had brought the cake into the bedroom.
    I licked my lips and beamed down on Hunter’s vulnerable body. “Happy birthday to me,” I murmured.
    Leaning over, I licked up the frosting I’d wiped on Hunter’s skin. I sat up straight again and wiped at my mouth with the back of my hand. “Good choice on the cake, hun,” I approved with a sly smile.
    “Uh huh.”
    I dabbed a smaller dot of frosting behind Hunter’s right earlobe and proceeded to paint small dots down her neck and across her collarbone. I bit my bottom lip to keep my triumphant smile at bay. I knew Hunter was going to pay me back for this later. But for now, I was going to have my fun.
    I swabbed my tongue across the length of Hunter’s jutting collarbone. I sucked on the flesh and bone long after the last remnants of sugar frosting were gone,